22
February, 2009This evening at Cruisetown Strand, Co. Louth there was an adult
Scandinavian Herring Gull (ssp. argentatus), a 1st-winter Iceland Gull & 600+ Golden Plover. In the fields behind the strand there was a wing-tagged 1st-year
Hen Harrier, 2 Buzzards, 70+ Tree Sparrows & several Yellowhammers. At Annagassan a
Common Gull with an aberrant deep orange-red bill was noted (pics of a very similar bird seen in Sligo last March can be found here: http://www.sligobirding.com/CartronGull.html). NK NTK

A
trip to Co Wicklow today produced a Dipper at Lough
Dan, then another pair at Aughrim along with a female Goosander. No sign of any
Woodpeckers in Sheleleigh, but excellent views of a Red Kite near Arklow. A 1st winter
Iceland Gull showed well in Arklow but little else of note there. A brief view of a
Red Kite and a Buzzard showed well directly over Avoca town centre. A
pair of Goosanders was also seen in the usual area. . Then back to Vartry to look at some lovely ducks! 2 female
Ring Necked Ducks showed well but a little distantly, along with 3
Tufted ducks, 20 Little Grebes, 1 male Gadwall, a pair of
Shoveller, 8 Wigeon and a pair of Whooper swans.
On the way home, a small flock of 7-8 Ring- necked Parakeets flew over the motorway at Kilmacanoge.(probably
escaped from the Aviary nearby)
A great day in Co wicklow! RV

At
Rogerstown today there were 2 Brambling (1 male;1 female) and
a Spotted Redshank.DD7 Yellowhammers were seen at Manley's
Nurseries in Edenderry, Co Offaly. LB

21
February, 2009 ( Tolka Outing to the Midland lakes)An exciting trip to the chilly midlands today rewarded the brave and
hardy . At Lough Owel were Great Crested Grebe and Golden Eye. At Lough
Deravaragh there were Pochard, Tufted Duck, Coot, one Lesser Scaup, Little and
Great Crested Grebe. Woodland habitat along the lakes had Long Tailed, Coal and Blue Tit
and several Treecreepers. On the farm land we saw 20+ Redwing, a few Fieldfare, Song and Mistle
Thrushs. On to the third lake, Lough Ennell where a female Ring Necked Duck
associated with Pochard, Coot and Tufted Duck.JF

19
February, 2009100+ Curlew observed today feeding on the pitch of star-lights gaelic football ground at the back of
Dublin airport this morning.Tthere was also 150+ Lapwing seen on the farm land across from the entrance gates of
Keelings fruit farm at back of the airport.(this farm land is were the new runway will be located).MK

Curlew on the Bull today. Eric Doggett

18
February, 2009
A calm afternoon and still waters enabled the following to be noted at the
north end of the Vartry Reservoir, Co Wicklow. One male Goldeneye, one male Gadwall, a pair of Shovelers,
small numbers of Wigeon, Mallard and Teal, two male and one female
Tufted Duck. Associating with the Tufted Duck were two female Ring-necked
Ducks. Two Whoopers remained with ten Mute Swans, while
Grebes were represented by a single Great Crested and 10+ Little
Grebes.MS 51 Waxwingson the
Coolemine Rd and 65 were at the
entrance to the Blanchardstown centre.SF One Buzzard over the N11 between the Sugarloafs, south of Kilmacanogue, and another
perched by the N11 at Carrickmines, south Dublin. Also a male Blackcap
in a garden, Kilcross, Sandyford, today and last two days.CMacL

Yellowhammer at Rogerstown today. John Fox

17
February, 200946 Waxwings on the Coolemine Rd. SF
Lovely day for birds in Rogerstown! See John's photos above and below.

Kestrel with Mouse, Rogerstown 17 February.
John Fox

15
February, 2009Beautiful Spring day in Dublin. Calm, sunny!

Today at Swords estuary there was
9 Snipe and
2 Ruff also
large flocks of Golden Plover, Lapwing, Brent. At Rogerstown there were flocks of
Yellowhammers, Linnets, Siskens, Gold Finches. Reed Bunting
also present along with Tree Sparrows. GFi 2 Short Eared
Owls
at Lowtherstown.SC 1 Red-throated Diver almost in summer
plumage (5 others in winter plumage) off Kilcoole this morning.
Also at Kilcoole were 15 Whooper Swans, 250 Greylag Geese at a
distance feeding and resting in the ploughed field. 167 Brent Geese
in the field close to the rail track.LB

Brambling, Rogerstown 17 February. John Fox

14
February, 200937 Waxwings on the Coolmine Rd. 4
Gadwall ( 2 male and two female) on the Bull this morning. SF Merlin showing on Bull
Island seen from the Causeway.GFi At Dundalk on I Webs day there was a total of 34,377 waterbirds counted, of 36 species.Top ten species were
Knot 7,801, Oystercatcher 6,002. Golden Plover 4,924, Lapwing 4,083, Dunlin 3,144,
Bar-tailed Godwit 2,369, Black-tailed Godwit 1,520, Teal 644, Redshank 412, Brent Goose 342.
Seven Scaup between Dunany Point and Clogher Head was unusual for there.OM

Skylark on the Bull today. Shay Connolly

13
February, 2008Along Leeson Park in Ranelagh this morning at least 350 Brent Geese
flew over from east to north west, at least 6 Blackcaps in the various gardens and a pair of
Treecreepers were in the church grounds again. The resident party of 15-20 Long-tailed
Tits also evident while a lone male Bullfinch was busy feeding on the emerging buds of a birch.MC

12
February, 2009Fifty Waxwings this afternoon feeding in the gardens at Rooseveldt
Cottages, Navan Road just at the outbound busstop after Cabra Garda Station. Seen at 15.15 and 16.00.DMcC

10
February, 2009Pair of Peregrine Falcons on the top of the Central Bank early
this morning.LB 2 Buzzards (?) soaring just between junction 2 and 3 going North on the N2 today.
RK Great photos of a Little Gull, Swords at the weekend on Tom
Shevlin's website.

Saturday
7 February, 2009
Adult
Mediterranean Gull on Newry River at Narrow Water. Also one Buzzard and two Sparrowhawks, all hunting waders.
OM

6
February, 2009A 1st winter Ring-billed Gull was
at Gormanstown, a 2nd winter Yellow-legged Gull
and a 2nd winter Glaucous Gull (a brute of a bird!)
was on the outer estuary at Rogerstown and an adult Little Gull
was at Swords.Eric

5
February, 2009Large flock of approx 100 thrushes on the pitches in Trinity
College central Dublin today. Mainly Redwings but also present were
Mistle Thrush and the odd Fieldfare.IS Looked great in the snow.!

Irish
Coal Tit, Fairview. John Fox

4
February, 2009Five Little Egrets, 122 Black-tailed Godwits and a few Oystercatchers and Black-headed Gulls feeding on earthworms in waterlogged grassland in St. Anne's Park on 4.2.09.
OM At the Wooden Bridge on the Bull there were 12 pairs of Red Breasted
Mergansers and 2 pairs of Great Crested Grebes . MH

Red-breasted Merganser and Black-headed Gulls
off the Bull. Michael Harris

3
February, 20092 male and 1 female Blackcap this morning in Leeson Park and
there was a Treecreeper in the grounds of the church on the corner of Leeson Park/Dartmouth Road.MC
At the Topaz station on the Finglas Road there were 77
Waxwings sitting in the trees in the middle of the dual
carriageway also feeding on the ground, coming down to take fallen berries. They were present up to about 1.45 when they flew into the
cemetry.Eric

Waxwings in Glasnevin today. Eric

1
February, 2009 First day of Spring! Red-necked Grebe at Merrion Gates and 2nd winter
Ring-billed Gull PK 54 Waxwings at Glendown Park,
Templeogue.RV There was a flock of c 70 Waxwings
on the Old Cabra Rd yesterday, in trees beside the Railway bridge. They later moved on to the New Cabra
Rd, again in tall trees beside the Railway. BBG Also 70+ Waxwings
on Barton Road East CMacL

At Rogerstown today there was 1 2nd
Winter GlaucousGull and 1 ad. Mediterranean
Gull. Also there were 2 Curlew
Sandpipers with the Dunlin flock, seen just before full tide. A Peregrine
and a few Buzzards were also seen.AK Today in
Dunlaoghaire there was 1 Black Guillemot, 1 Guillemot, 1 Great-crested
Grebe, 3 Shags, and several Mediterranean gulls.JC

2 of todays Templeogue Waxwings. Robert
Vaughan

Dundalk Waxwings also today. Eric

31
January, 2009At Walkinstown Park this morning there was a mixed flock of 62 Redwings
and Fieldfares on the playing pitches. A Glaucous
Gull was at Merrion Gates this afternoon. 120
Common Gulls with the Brent and Black- headed Gulls on the grass
at Tymon Park this morning also 2 Skylarks. LB

30
January 200920 Waxwings at Templeville Drive
this morning. RV

29
January, 2009
Peregrine Falcon hunting over the canal between Harrolds Cross and
Crumlin. Greenland White-fronted goose still with the Mute Swans on
the canal.RV

28
January, 2009At Coolmine this lunchtme, there were up to 15 Waxwings.
SF In Lucan there were about 30 at the Spa Hotel. PK Meanwile on the
canal by the Drimnagh Luas stop there was a Little Egret on the
canal! RV

Surf Gull, Dunlaoghaire. Carol Duffy

27
January, 2009Waxwings back in Dublin 15. A flock of 9 in Ravenswood, Ongar
yesterday expanded to a flock of 47 on Allendale View, also in Ongar
(Clonsilla) today. A flock of Fieldfares also in the area. SF 55
more Waxwings on the Tolka Estate Rd in Glasnevin.
Eric

26
January, 200980 Waxwingsin Lucan today.SC

Waxwing, Lucan. Shay Connolly

Sunday
25 January, 200938 Waxwingsin Dundalk today. An immature
Glaucous Gull was at Lurgangreen. PK The
north east coast was scoured for a heart stoppingly nice white gull
with black legs but no luck today!

Resident
Kestrel on the Bull made mince meat of a rat this morning.MH

34 Mediterranean
Gulls at Sandycove today (around noon, at full tide) and 12 Purple Sandpipers at the Forty Foot.
At least four of the Meds were first-winter, also several second-winter. Three of the birds had green colour-rings. Two of these were Sandycove regulars, ringed as pulli in Belgium. The third was a
first-year ringed in Pas de Calais, France.
CMcL

Saturday
24 January, 2009At Rogerstown today flocks of 20c Blue Tits, 30c Chaffinches, 220c
Linnets. Also 4 Greenfinch, 6 Reed Buntings, 1 Yellowhammer, 6 Tree Sparrows, 1 Male Brambling, 1 second Winter Common Gull, 6 GreyPlover,
300c Golden Plover, 1000c Lapwing, 30 Curlew and flocks of Teal, Widgeon and Brent Geese.BK
A Peregrine Falcon was on the Howth side of the causeway being mobbed by 2
Hooded Crows while there was a Merlin hunting on the south side of the causeway.MH
14 Red-Throated Divers off Kilmichael Point south of Arklow this morning.ER

22
January, 2009Waxwings seen several times during
the day at Templeville drive- a group of 3 at 10 am, a group of over 20 at 3ish and approx 40 at 4 pm.
RV

19
January, 2009At Kilcoole today a Great Northern Diver was offshore, as were 6 Red-throated Divers. Webb's
field was full of birds with around 3000 Lapwing, 100 Golden Plover and
many Wigeon and Teal. Only 33 Pale-bellied Brent were present, but a record
high of 88 Whooper Swans and a group of 82 Greylag Geese balanced the
number of wildfowl. A hybrid Hooded/Carrion Crow was at the Breaches, while
two Snow Bunting were at the level crossing further south.
MS

Sunday
18 January, 2009At Bray Harbour this evening 40 Little Gulls were resting off shore with many more feeding at the sewage outlet. An adult
Ring-billed Gull was in the harbour feeding on scraps thrown for the swans.NK &
MS In the early morning sushine there were 23 singing Waxwings
outside the Rotunda again today. LB Another 12 were seen in
Templeogue.RV A Peregrine hung around Temple Bar for most of the
day finally enjoying a Pigeon at its plucking post on the top of the
Central Bank.LB

Brent on the Bull at dawn today. Eric
Doggett

Saturday,
17 January, 200940 Waxwings at Rotunda Hospital, Dublin again this morning 9am onwards, also
seen on centre aisle of O'Connell Street opposite Savoy cinema. Peregrine
Falcon flew over Rotunda c 10am. TD A single Greenland White-Fronted Goose
was feeding with Mute Swans at Portobello Bridge in Rathmines. It was very tame and
allowed people to walk within a couple of feet without moving, so it may have been an escape/feral.
This bird has been in the areas for a week now! BBG RV Long-
Billed Dowitcher still at Dundalk together with 2 adult Bewick
Swans ( great to see a return of Bewicks!) and 10
Twite. 1 Little Gull at Clogher Head PK

13
January, 2009What is it with these Waxwings and Hospitals?! Waxwings
seen today again at the Rotunda and at St James Hospital. (100
today).MS One Black Redstart, one
Common Sandpiper and two Grey Wagtails at
Killiney - see Johns photos below! JF2 Little Egrets were on the river in Cabinteely Park this evening. NK NTK

Photos John Fox

12
January, 2009The male Black Redstart is still present in Treasure Cove, Dalkey (below the northern end of the Vico Road). A sighting of
4 Teal in Kilbogget Park, Cabinteely was notable. NK

11
January, 2009Brent geese watchers may be interested to know that 1,731 geese came
in to roost on the North Bull Island between 16.30 and 17.00 from their
inland day feeding sites around Dublin.LB, JF,AF,GFr

The 19th annual Dublin Bird Race went ahead today with 4 teams taking part, recording a combined total of 113 species.The winning team
(The Southside Swifts) scored with 107. Thanks to Niall Keogh for
sending us this report.

Highlights from the day include:
2 Whooper Swans flying over the Bull Island.
An adult Dark-bellied Brent Goose provided further interest at Rogerstown.
A pair of Gadwall were at the Bull Island outflow, south of the causeway. Another drake was at Knock Lake.
A female Scaup was seen in Swords Estuary.
Single Great Northern Divers were seen in Scotsman's Bay & off Lowtherstown.
Sparrowhawks were seen at several locations including Lowtherstown.
Buzzards were recorded at: Swords (1), Rush (1), Rogerstown (8) and along the M1 (2).
A Kestrel over Deansgrange was notable.
A single Merlin was hunting from the Wooden Bridge, Bull Island.
Peregrines were seen at several sites as follows: Dalkey Island (2), East Pier Dun Laoghaire (1), Bull Island (2) and Rogerstown (1).Purple Sandpipers were seen at: 'The 40 foot', Sandycove (1), the East Pier Dun Laoghaire (1) and Lowtherstown (2).
A single Ruff was at Broadmeadows ( see Johns photo above).
A Jack Snipe was flushed from the saltmarsh on the southern side of the causeway on the Bull Island.
A Woodcock was flushed from a coastal ditch at Lowtherstown.
A minimum of 4 Little Gulls were at the outflow off Shanganagh with another 1st-winter seen at Dalkey Island.Up to 2 adult Ring-billed Gulls were on Sandymount Strand.
Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Sandymount Strand and off Lowtherstown.
1st-winter Iceland Gull seen flying over Dalkey village.
Gannet, Kittiwake and Fulmars were all noted off Dalkey/Killiney.2 Short-eared Owls were at Lowtherstown.
Single Kingfishers were at the Bull Island and at Deansgrange.9 Waxwings were at Brabazon Square, off Meath Street, Dublin City.
2 Dippers were on the Shanganagh River at Brides Glen, Loughlinstown.
A beautiful male Black Redstart was found at Treasure Cove, below the Vico Road, Killiney Hill.
Single Treecreeper at Cabinteely Park.
A hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow was on the Bull Island. (This bird showed a limited amount of
grey on the 'trousers' and lower belly, thus it was decided to be counted as a full tick as Carrion Crow for the day list by all teams who saw it!!!)
Several Tree Sparrows & Yellowhammers were at Lowtherstown.
A single Brambling was at Rogerstown.

Redwing, Bullfinch & Long-tailed Tit were noted in good numbers. A great day for birds of prey despite the strong wind. No team recorded Water Rail. Greylag Goose has not been recorded for three years now.NTK

In
Dundalk, the Long Billed Dowitcher
is still present along with several Twite and
there was at least 1 Velvet Scoter off
Cruisetown.PK 28 Waxwings in Lucan today. SC

9
January, 2009
1 Buzzard
at Carrickmines today lunchtime and 18 Mediterranean Gulls
were in Sandycove along the shore between the Forty Foot and Scotsman’s
Bay. 2 Blackcaps in Sandyford garden.CMacL 50
Waxwings over Walkinstown. RV 10 Waxwings over
Store St at 3.30pm this pm. DD

Numbers of waterbirds in Dundalk Bay
have dropped considerably since late December, perhaps because of the severe cold -- with ice on the mudflats and saltmarshes. Hardly any Golden Plover, and very few Lapwing, which had good numbers in late December (5,158 and 3,454 respectively, compared with 39 and 243 this time). The grand total was 19,820, compared with 36,612 in late December. The top ten species were Knot (5447), Oystercatcher (4394), Dunlin (1937), Bar-tailed Godwit (1580), Black-headed Gull (1479), Black-tailed Godwit (790), Common Gull (635), Mallard (629), Redshank (495), and Brent Goose (315).OM

8
January, 2009
In the Phoenix Park today there were 2 Snipe, 18 Lapwings on the 40 acres with over
400 Redwings around the margins (less 1 on which a male Kestrel was dining),
1 Chiff-chaff, 3 Jays, 1 Treecreeper and 2 Siskins
also in this area. The evening gathering of feeding corvids around Tinklers path included up to
350 Hooded Crows.SF A pair of Redwings on the rugby pitches in Trinity College this morning along with 4 Mistle
Thrushes.IS An adult Ring-billed Gull and 2 adult Lesser Black-backed Gulls were at Merrion Gates, Sandymount Strand.
Buzzards were seen at Swords (1), Corballis (1) Rogerstown (2) and along the M1 (3). A female-type
Merlin was at Rogerstown. A female
Scaup and a male Gadwall were at Knock Lake. 3 Short-eared Owls, 60-70 Tree Sparrows and
5 Purple Sandpipers were at Lowtherstown. NK NTK BP

7 January, 2009
2 Purple Sandpipers
were at the 40 Foot, with a minumun of 16
Med Gulls seen from there. A Water Rail was seen at Booterstown below the carpark preening in the sedge.
6 Red Throated Divers and a single Great Northern Diver
were off Kiliney Bay. RV

Fieldfare on the Bull. Eric Doggett

5 January, 2009There was no sign of the Red-necked Grebe seen from The Breaches, Kilcoole yesterday although a biting easterly wind and large swell made viewing conditions difficult. Offshore,
6 Gannets and a drake Red-breasted Merganser flew south and
5 Red-throated Divers and 2 Kittiwakes moved north. On the marsh, the adult
Dark-bellied Brent Goose along with
c.300 Pale-bellied Brent Geese, 39 Shoveler, a female Pintail, 3 drake and a female Gadwall, a drake Pochard, a 1st-winter male type
Tufted Duck, 2 Little Egrets, a Greenshank and 6 Black-tailed Godwits
were present. 83 Whooper Swans (incl. 19 1st-winters) were feeding in the ploughed field behind Webb's along with a single
Greylag Goose and a Mute Swan! A hybrid Carrion X Hooded Crow was seen at The Breaches. At Johnstown, Cabinteely, 6 Long-tailed Tits and a male Blackcap were present in our back garden as well as an adult
Mediterranean Gull flying over South-East (3 Blackcaps have been seen here recently and the Long-tailed Tits are making regular appearances). NK NTK

Merganser, Bull. Michael Harris

Sunday 4, January 2009Slavonian Grebe off
the Bull Wall and there was a Jack Snipe, a
Common Snipe, a Carrion Crow and a Merlin on the
Bull. SF An adult winter Little Stint, Curlew
Sandpiper and Ruff were at Swords. A minumum of 3
Brambling, 2 ad males and a 1st winter female opposite the allotments in Rogerstown. A female
Scaup and a male Gadwall were at Knock lake. A 1st winter male
Black Redstart that had been present in a rough field in Donabate for a few weeks was not seen.RV

Waxwing on the NCR. Eric Doggett

Saturday 3, January 200994 Waxwings at Rochford, Lucan, 10
Redwing, 2 Blackcaps.SC Down off the wooden bridge to day were 4 pairs of
Red Brested Mergansers. At the causeway end way out towards Sutton were
2 Peregrine falcons.MH 30 Waxwings on
the North Circular Road, Dublin 1 - they stayed for 15 minites to eat all
the berries and cleared off! ED There were 2 Red-throated Divers in Howth Harbour and a
Guillemot. Also 2 Oystercatchers, a Rock Pipit, 4 Turnstones and several
Shags. In the sea near the harbour, 3 Great Crested Grebes. 3
Waxwings at Howth Junction. JC.

Red-throated Diver, Howth. Jose Campos

2 January, 2009There was a Jay just West of Drumgoff crossroads in Glenmalure this
morning. ER 3 Redpolls in Santry garden this morning. BK 32 Waxwings at
Abbeywood Court not far from Rochfort Lucan Also 5 Red kites at Barranisky,
Avoca N52°51.176’ W006°10.394’ SC A good day for raptors.4 Kestrels
and 2 Buzzards on the N2 today between the Finglas junction and the Ashbourne roundabout.
A Female Hen Harrier hunting over stubble fields in Cruisetown today.Also
2 Buzzards and 2 Kestrels in Cruisetown today.NO'R

1 January, 20092 Snow Buntings and a Red Grouse on Fair
mountain.A Dipper in song, female Goosander and a Red Kite along the Avoca, 1km east of Woodenbridge.
SF 6 Long-tailed tits still coming to Heather's feeder in Howth. HQ There
was a lovely Merlin hunting in the marshy grass area by the
Causeway on the Bull this morning. MH.

31 December, 2008
With the usual Wigeon, Teal, Mallard and other regulars at Kilcoole were large numbers of
Whooper Swans(79) and Shoveler (33). One Snow Bunting was feeding near the Breaches, while a solitary Greenshank was seen in Webb'sfield.
10 Red-throated Divers were offshore along with 42 Shag.MS